Meade thrilled with Pandorama

Noel Meade's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Pandorama led a team of seven horses from the stable in a workout at Leopardstown this morning.

The County Meath trainer expressed his delight at the way the exercise went, and is particularly looking forward to running Pandorama in the big chase on March 18.

"Everything went perfect. He worked great. I was delighted with him, absolutely thrilled," said Meade.

"He went about a mile and seven, almost two miles, with six others, Realt Dubh as well and I was very happy with both of them. They'll have one more bit of work next week and then that should be it.

"I might give Pandorama a school over fences at some stage this week at home, and then it's all systems go."

Pandorama, who was last seen winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December, is a top-priced 20/1 with the sponsors for the Gold Cup.

Meade will only have a few runners at the Festival with dual Grade One winner Realt Dubh more likely to go for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy than the Jewson Novices' Chase.

"Realt Dubh will almost certainly go for the Arkle," he revealed.

"I won't have a big team this year. There will be those two and possibly Fully Funded might take his chance in the Albert Bartlett.

"Silverhand is in a couple of handicaps (the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle and the Coral Cup). We'll see what weight he gets and I think that might be it there for me this year."